• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.121-128
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• 2004

Mast cells and goblet cells have the ability to protect against parasites by increasing mucus production that traps and excludes worms and prevents their intimate contact with the gut mucosa in the host. In this study, we investigated the function of mast cells and goblet cells for the rejection of Echinostoma hortense (E. hortense). In addition, we used both C3H/HeN and BALB/c mice in order to examine whether mast cells and goblet cells function differentially according to the strains of mice. After an oral infection with 30 E. hortense metacercariae, the number of mucosal mast cells and goblet cells, as well as worm recovery rate, were observed in experimentally infected mice between 1 week and 8 weeks post-infection (PI). Worm recovery rates in C3H/HeN and BALB/c mice were 65.7％ and 23％, respectively, in week 1 P.I., indicating that worm expulsion in C3H/HeN mice was higher than in BALB/c mice. Our results demonstrate that the period (week 3 P.I.) in which worm recovery falls rapidly is the same period that the number of goblet cells and mast cells reaches a peak. These results indicate that worm recovery significantly correlates with the growth rate of goblet cells and mast cells (P=0.0482). However, worm expulsion is not associated with goblet cells or mast cells in BALB/c mice.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.263-269
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• 2001

In this study, we tried to investigate whether poly-L-arginine (PLA) (MW 10,800) significantly affect mucin release from cultured hamster airway goblet cells and the mucosubstances of hypersecretory air-way goblet cells of rats. Confluent primary hamster tracheal surface epithelial (HTSE) cells were metabolically radiolabeled with $^3$H-glucosamine for 24 hr and chased for 30 min in the presence of varying concentrations of PLA to assess the effects on $^3$H-mucin release. Possible cytotoxicities of PLA were assessed by measuring both Lactate Dehydrogenate (LDH) release and by checking the possible changes on the morphology of HTSE cells during treatment. For in vivo experiment, hyperplasia of rat airway goblet cells and increase in intraepithelial mucosubstances were induced by exposing rats to SO$_2$ for 3 weeks and varying concentrations of PLA were administered inhalationally to assess the effects on the mucosubstances of airway goblet cells of rats. The results were as follows : (1) PLA significantly inhibited mucin release from cultured HTSE cells in a dose-dependent manner; (2) there was no significant release of LDH and no significant change on the morphology of cultured HTSE cells during treatment; (3) PLA also affected the intraepithelial mucosubstances of hypersecretory rats and restored them to the levels of control animals. We conclude that PLA inhibit mucin release from airway goblet cells without significant cytotoxicity and possibly normalize the hypersecretion of airway mucosubstances in vivo. This finding suggests that PLA might function as an airway mucoregulative agent.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2005

Mast cells and goblet cells have been known to protect the host against parasites. In this study, we examined the response of the mast cells and goblet cells over a period of 6 weeks in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of C3H/HeN and C57BL/6 mice infected with Echinostoma hortense (E. hortense). In addition, we investigated whether the worm recovery rate of uninfected mice (the control group) or E. hortense-infected mice (the experimental group) was associated with the number of mast cells and goblet cells. The worm recovery rate was higher in the C3H/HeN mice than in the C57BL/6 mice. The number of goblet cells significantly increased in the experimental group of the C3H/HeN and C57BL/6 mice compared with the control group of both strains (P<0.005). Worm recovery peaked 3 weeks after the infection of the C57BL/6 mice and at 2 weeks after the infection of the C3H/HeN mice, and it was higher in the duodenum than in the jejunum and ileum. However, the infected site in the intestine had no relation with worm expulsion. In the C3H/HeN and C57BL/6 mice, the number of goblet cells in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.005). The number reached a peak 2 weeks after the infection and it even increased in duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The increased number of goblet cells was retained 6 weeks after infection. The number of goblet cells was higher in the C3H/HeN mice than in the C57BL/6 mice (P<0.01). These results indicate that goblet cells are related with the worm expulsion. Furthermore, immunohistostaining of the antral intestinal walls for lectin showed the significant increase of the number of goblet cells in the experimental group (P<0.001). The high infection rate in the duodenum was found during the early infection. An increased infection rate in the jejunum and ileum was found 3 weeks after infection and the infection rate was higher in the C3H/HeN mice than in the C57BL/6 mice. Taken together, the present study indicates that goblet cells, rather than mast cells, may play critical roles in parasite expulsion.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.51-64
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• 1990

This experiment was performed to study the morphological changes of the goblet cells in the rabbit duodenal mucosa after common bile duct ligation. Healthy adult rabbits weighting about 2kg body weight were divided to normal and bile duct ligated groups. Common bile duct ligation was performed under ether anesthesia. Experimental animals were sacrificed on the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 14th day after the operation. Mucosal specimens from the upper part of duodenum were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde-1.5% paraformaldehyde, followed by 1% osmium tetroxide, embedded in araldite mixture, cut with LKB-V ultratome, stained with uranyl acetate - lead citrate, and observed with JEM 100 CX II electron microscope. Observed results were as follow : 1. In the early stages(1st-5th day) of the experiments, the goblet cells showed apocrine and merocrine secretion. But those of the late stage(7th and 14th day) groups showed exocytotic merocrine secretion. 2. In the late stage of the experiments, there found than increase of newly formed goblet cells that contain electron lucent cytoplasms. 3. In the goblet cells of normal rabbit, mucous granules with higher or lower electron densities are found together in the cytoplasm, and electron lucent mucous granules occasionally fused together. But in the early stage of the common bile duct ligation, goblet cells contained granules of higher electron densities. 4. Considering the above findings, common bile duct ligation probably initiates the hypersecretion of mucous granules of goblet cells in the early stage, and may facilitate the differentiation of goblet cells in the later stage.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.177-183
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• 2002

The study was designed to investigate the aspects of the goblet cell of the oviduct in laying Korean ring-necked pheasants by histochemical methods (PAS, alcian blue-PAS, alcian blue pH 2.5, alcian blue pH 1.0, and aldehyde fuchsin-alcian blue stain). Twelve laying Korean ring-necked pheasants were used. The results were summarized as follows. The goblet cell of the oviduct of the Korean ring-necked pheasant contained sulfated acid mucosubstances and neutral mucosubstances in the infundibulum. The compounds of sulfated acid mucosubstances, nonsulfated acid mucosubstances, and neutral mucosubstances are present in goblet cells of the magnum, vagina and openings of the tubular gland of the uterus of the oviduct in the Korean ring-necked pheasant. The goblet cell of the isthmus and uterus of the oviduct of the Korean ring-necked pheasant contained neutral mucosubstances except openings of the tubular gland of the uterus. The histochemical characteristics of secretory granules of goblet cells in oviduct of the Korean ring-necked pheasant were not related to the position of eggs in oviduct.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 2006

Echinostoma hortense (E. hortense) is an intestinal trematode with the highest infection rate in South Korea. However, the immune response against E. hortense infection has not been explained well. In the present study, we investigated the effect of treatment with cyclosporin A (CsA) and histamine receptor antagonists on the cytokine expression and mucosal goblet cells in E. hortense-infected C3H/HeN mice. The alteration of cytokine mRNA expression ($TNF-{\alpha},\;IL-l{\beta},\;IL-4\;and\;IL-5$), intestinal worm recovery rate and goblet cell responses were measured weekly from 0 to 5 weeks post-infection (P.I.) in the control and the following three drug-treated groups: CsA, hydroxyzine and cimetidine. Compared with the control group, the expression of $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4 and IL-5 mRNAs decreased in the CsA- and hydroxyzine-treated groups, but only IL-4 mRNA expression did in the cimetidine-treated group. Worm recovery rate was significantly increased in the drug-treated groups. Mucosal goblet cells and their mucin response significantly decreased in the CsA-treated group (P<0.01), but significantly increased in the cimetidine- (P<0.05) and hydroxyzine- (P<0.01) treated groups. These data suggest that CsA treatment inhibits production of Th1- and Th2-type cytokines which are necessary for the worm expulsion. Histamine receptor increases goblet cells and their mucin activation, although it remains to be elucidated whether it directly affects the worm expulsion period of E. hortense in C3H/HeN mice.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.207-217
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• 2016

In this study, we investigated the characteristics of CCK-producing cells and mucus-secreting goblet cells with respect to stomach fish and stomachless fish of the Gobiidae in order to provide a basis for understanding the digestive physiology. Hairychin goby (Sagamia geneionema), which is stomachless fish, the numbers of mucus-secreting goblet cells is highest in the posterior intestine portion (P<0.05), while CCK-producing cells are scattered throughout the intestine. Gluttonous goby (Chasmichthys gulosus), which is stomach fish, mucus-secreting goblet cells are most abundant in the mid intestine portion (P<0.05), whereas CCK-producing cells are observed only in the anterior and mid intestine portion. Trident goby (Tridentiger obscurus) which is stomach fish, mucus-secreting goblet cells were most abundant in the mid intestine portion (P<0.05). CCK-producing cells are found in the anterior and mid intestine portion. Giurine goby, Rhinogobius giurinus which is also stomach fish, the largest number of mucus-secreting goblet cells showed in anterior intestine portion except for esophagus (P<0.05). CCK-producing cells are present only in the anterior and mid intestine portion. In S. geneionema, digestive action occurs in the posterior intestine portion to protect and functions to activate digestion. In contrast, in C. gulosus, T. obscurus and R. giurinus, their digestive action occurs in the anterior and mid intestine portion to protect and functions to activate digestion. Further studies of the modes of food ingestion by these fish, the contents of their digestive tracts, and the staining characteristics of the goblet cells need to be carried out.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.218-223
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• 2001

In the present study, we intended to investigate whether polycationic peptides including poly-L-lysine (PLL) and poly-L-arginine (PLA) specifically inhibit the mucin release and do not affect significantly the release of the other releasable glycoproteins with less molecular weight than mucin's from cultured airway goblet cells. Confluent primary hamster tracheal surface epithelial (HTSE) cells were metabolically radiolabeled with 3H-glucosamine for 24 hr and chased for 30 min in the presence of varying concentrations of either poly-L-arginine (PLA) or poly-L-lysine (PLL) to assess the effects on 3H-mucin release and on the total elution profile of the treated culture medium. The results were as follows : (1) PLL 78,000, PLL 9,600 and PLA 8,900 inhibited mucin release in a dose-dependent manner; (2) These polycationic peptides did not inhibit the release of the other releasable glycoproteins with less molecular weights than mucin's. We conclude that these polycationic peptides 'specifically'inhibit mucin release from airway goblet cells. This finding suggests that these polycationic peptides might be used as a specific airway mucin-regulating agent.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.151-165
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• 1985

The morphological changes of the midgut epithelium during the metamorphosis of pine caterpillar are observed with light and electron microscope, being divided into 5 stages from the 8th instar larva to just after pupation. The midgut epithelium of 8th instar larva is composed of columnar cell, goblet cell, regenerative cell, and endocrine cell. The secretorials are arranged on the nuclear membrane in the columnar cell of the midgut epithelium in the 8th instar larva, and lysosomes are augmented in the apical portion. Cytoplasmic extrusions are observed in the apical surface of columnar cell but they have no cell organells. Nucleus, mitochondria, rER, Golgi complex, and free ribsomes are observed in the regenerative cell. Regenerative cells are differentiated into the form of goblet cell, and vacuoles are gradually increased in the cytoplasm. Just pupa stage, the materials, which appears to be mainly composed of Ca, are observed in the circular form and goblet cavity of regenerative cell are detached to lumen. As a result, it reflects the process of the degeneration of the midgut epithelium that lysosomes are gradually augmented in the columnar cell, that nuclear materials are removed to cytoplasm, and that cytoplasmic extrusions are observed in the apical surface. And though regenerative cells are differentiated into the form of the goblet cell, it is believed that goblet cavity is detached from regenerative cell to the lumen and midgut epithelium of pupa stage is formed.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 2005

Morphology, histology, and histochemical characteristics of the digestive tract of the guirine goby (Rhinogobius giurinus: Gobiidae), collected from the coast of Jeju Island, Korea, were investigated. The digestive tract of R. giurinus, which is a brackish water species, has a short (relative length of gut=0.42), simple, and narrow gut. The gastric glands are well developed in the stomach, but pyloric caeca are absent. The mucosal folds are regularly branched, and the muscularis extern a is thickest in the esophagus, which also contained the most mucus-secreting goblet cells (P<0.05). In R. giurinus, digestive function occurs in the anterior portion of the digestive tract, where mucus protects the tract from the actions of digestive enzymes and functions to activate digestion.